Colleagues of man killed in cycling accident will tackle half-marathon for GNAAS

Friends of a much-loved former colleague who was killed in a cycling accident will tackle a half-marathon in his memory. Five staff members from Simpson Group, a company specialising in retail signs in Washington, will take on the Great North Run in memory of Graham McGregor, from Chester-le-Street, who died after a collision on the A68 on April 6, 2013. His family credit the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAAS), who treated the 56-year-old at the incident, with giving them enough time to say their goodbyes. Kerry Wheatley, of Simpson Group, said: “Thanks to the air angels, who were first on the scene after the fatal collision, Graham’s devastated family had the chance to say a final goodbye before his death, including his sister who flew to his bedside from Australia. “The paramedics ensured that Graham was stable before taking him to hospital where he was kept alive on a life-support machine for the family’s last moments together.” Ms Wheatley described their former employee, who had worked at the print company since 1982 as “a creative individual, who has left a legacy.” She added: “His loss is felt every day.” The team of five – Rachel Garvin, Chris Grant, Monika Rudnic, Stephen Waller and Anthony Dixon now hope to raise as much money as possible for GNAAS and have gained £1600 in sponsorship so far. Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS, said: “A huge thank you to Simpson Group for their continued support to the charity in memory of Graham.

Friends of a much-loved former colleague who was killed in a cycling accident will tackle a half-marathon in his memory.

Five staff members from Simpson Group, a company specialising in retail signs in Washington, will take on the Great North Run in memory of Graham McGregor, from Chester-le-Street, who died after a collision on the A68 on April 6, 2013.

His family credit the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAAS), who treated the 56-year-old at the incident, with giving them enough time to say their goodbyes.

Kerry Wheatley, of Simpson Group, said: “Thanks to the air angels, who were first on the scene after the fatal collision, Graham’s devastated family had the chance to say a final goodbye before his death, including his sister who flew to his bedside from Australia.

“The paramedics ensured that Graham was stable before taking him to hospital where he was kept alive on a life-support machine for the family’s last moments together.”

Ms Wheatley described their former employee, who had worked at the print company since 1982 as “a creative individual, who has left a legacy.”

She added: “His loss is felt every day.”

The team of five – Rachel Garvin, Chris Grant, Monika Rudnic, Stephen Waller and Anthony Dixon now hope to raise as much money as possible for GNAAS and have gained £1600 in sponsorship so far.

Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS, said: “A huge thank you to Simpson Group for their continued support to the charity in memory of Graham. We wish the team every success in this tough feat and best of luck in their future fundraisers.”

GNAAS are a charity and need to raise £4.5m every year to stay operational.